Gor Mahia head coach Charles Akonnor has blamed lapses in concentration and a failure to handle the finer details after the Kenyan champions suffered a 2-0 defeat to Pyramids FC in the first leg of their CAF Champions League preliminary-round tie at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.
Gor Mahia fell behind in the fifth minute when Walid El Karti found the net before Mohamoud Saber doubled Pyramids’ lead deep into first-half stoppage time, leaving the hosts with a two-goal deficit to overturn in the return leg in Cairo.
Akonnor admitted that his side failed to deal with the opening stages of the match despite creating opportunities of their own.
“Before this game, I’ve always talked about the little details. That is what we saw,” Akonnor said. “In the early minutes, we had a chance to score. Just immediately after that, we conceded a goal.”
The Gor Mahia coach said Pyramids’ experience as Egyptian champions allowed them to punish mistakes.
“These are a few things that, you know, we’re talking about an experienced team, a team that is Egyptian champions. The least mistake we do, we punish,” he said.
Akonnor acknowledged that Gor Mahia struggled in the first half, allowing Pyramids to take control of the match, but was encouraged by his players’ response after the break.
“In the first half, it was a little bit of lack of concentration. We didn’t do well. We were supposed to hold them. We lost them a bit. It gave them an advantage to control the game,” he said.
The coach said Gor Mahia improved significantly after the interval, creating chances and putting Pyramids under pressure, with the introduction of Jackson Dwang among the changes that brought greater attacking intent.
“Looking at how we played in the second half, for the last few minutes, 20 to 25 minutes, I think we were in control. We played, we attacked, we pushed forward,” Akonnor said.
He also explained his decision to replace Lesley Otieno with Ben Stanley Omondi in the first half, insisting the change was tactical and not because of the midfielder’s performance.
“It wasn’t because he was doing bad. It was a tactical approach,” Akonnor said.
Akonnor said Gor Mahia had initially planned to deploy Alpha Onyango in a more advanced role, but his tendency to drop deeper prompted the coach to introduce a natural number 10 in Omondi.
“We sacrificed him. We thought, let’s bring in a proper number 10. Stanley,” he said.
The coach also defended his decision not to start Dwang, saying his team selection was based on form, fitness and the tactical demands of the match.
“It’s not starting because we’re looking at forms. Who is in a better form, who is in a better shape. Also, the approach,” he said.
Akonnor acknowledged the difference in competitive experience between the two sides, noting that Pyramids had already played four league matches without defeat while Gor Mahia lacked the same level of competitive momentum.
“They were smarter than us. They were experienced. They had the knowledge of what to do,” Akonnor said.
Pyramids coach Rhulani Mokwena, meanwhile, praised his players and technical staff for their preparation and execution in Nairobi.
“Congratulations to our club, everybody at the club, from the management to the players, also to the technical staff because we worked very, very hard behind the scenes to find information and to analyse their position,” Mokwena said.
The South African coach described Gor Mahia as a strong side and praised their players, particularly their midfield and defensive organisation.
“They’re a good side, they’ve got good players,” Mokwena said. “They are very good side and we beat a very good side today. So, I’m very proud of the team and the players.”
Mokwena said Pyramids had to adapt to the demands of the match, particularly after Gor Mahia improved following the interval.
“You have to play what the game says,” he said. “The fans were good, they pushed Gor Mahia here, they don’t give up. So, we had to adapt and we had to do what the game demanded us to do.”
Despite Pyramids’ two-goal advantage, Mokwena declined to disclose his tactical plans for the return leg, stressing that the tie remains unfinished.
“I don’t want to talk tactics because, as I said, I’ve got to respect the opposition coach and respect my team also because we’ve got a second leg to play,” he said.
For Akonnor, the defeat means Gor Mahia must produce a much-improved performance in Cairo, but the coach believes the tie is still within reach.
